The New York Times
The Cheongung-II, an air defense system made in South Korea, had never been tested in combat until Iran launched waves of ballistic missiles at the United Arab Emirates last month.
It reportedly shot down 29 out of 30 missiles and drones it targeted, according to South Korean news media and a government official.
Although it was only a small fraction of the missiles and drones intercepted during the first month of the war, the success drew praise from politicians and military analysts from Dubai to Seoul.
The strong debut of the Cheongung-II — which translates roughly to “Heaven’s Bow”— is the latest sign that South Korea’s defense manufacturers have become important players in the global arms market.
Several nations are looking for additional options as American defense manufacturers have struggled to keep pace with demand. Some countries have waited years for air defense systems because of a backlog for American systems.
South Korea is now the second-largest supplier of weapons systems to NATO countries in Europe, after the United States, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which keeps a database of arms transfers. South Korea’s president, Lee Jae Myung, has said he intends to build the world’s fourth-largest defense industry by 2030.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, demand in Europe for air defense systems has surged. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are already running at or near capacity, although both have pledged to ramp up manufacturing in the coming years.
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